What's on this weekend in Melbourne

Discover things to do in Melbourne this weekend, from free events to exhibitions, attractions and places to visit.

The NGV and Arts Centre lit up on a winter night.

This weekend

King Arthur and knights standing on stage in medieval dress.
Until

Monty Python's Spamalot

A riotous retelling of the adventures of King Arthur and his loyal Knights.

Physical theatre performer Daniel Nodder with his arms outstretched and holding a pose, on a dark stage under a single white light globe.
Until

Only Bones: Daniel Nodder

Mind-bending physical theatre with one light bulb, and one jelly-like performer.

Top down view of a collection of classic retro video games and consoles, including a Nintendo Game Boy Advance handheld system and several Nintendo 64 cartridges.
Until

Community Games Library

Got a game disc, cartridge or CD gathering dust? Bring it to ACMI and swap it for something new.

A still image from The Exorcist II showing a girl with electrodes stuck to her head in an experiment.
Until

MonsterFest

A celebration of all that is weird and wonderful in the international cult cinema palette.

Two figures wearing gaming costumes standing at an illuminated games machine.
Until

Melbourne International Games Week

Australia's largest festival celebrating games and the people who make and play them.

A modern custom computer built inside a retro Commodore 64 case, being used with a modern Xbox game controller.
Until

Games Week Showcase

The Games Week Showcase is a curated range of 135 new indie games selected from around the world.

A man in a white button-down shirt and black pants stands smiling in a bright, white-tiled subway corridor.
Until

Games Week Film Program

Visit ACMI cinema as they celebrate videogames on film.

Actor with his hands over his face in a dark setting.
–

Manifesto of Silences

A bold, Deaf-led reimagining of opera that pushes beyond the limits of traditional storytelling.

Man wearing red sunglasses taking a selfie.
–

Parasocial

A one-man musical comedy on the realities of one-sided relationships with famous people.

A man balancing a sculpture of an elephant on his head.
–

Toto's Song

A wild, tender, darkly funny new Australian play about legacy, care and chaos of being alive.

A still from the documentary film, The History of Concrete, of a cement mixer truck with a red and white striped barrel parked on a paved lot, with two men standing in conversation nearby.
–

The History of Concrete: Q&A

Enjoy advance screenings of The History of Concrete and a special pre-recorded Q&A.

Six performers posing dramatically against a vibrant red stage curtain backdrop.
–

Housewarming

Celebrating the reopening of the Ian Potter State Theatre.

Burlesque performer wearing a glittery tank top with long fringed gloves, holding a wire.

Club Fringe: Club Blaq

Featuring a line-up packed full of the best queer BIPOC acts and DJs.

Looking down on a very crowded indoor market with coloured signs.
–

The Finders Keepers Melbourne Design Market

The Finders Keepers markets return with 230+ makers and designers.

Performer on stage at a microphone, with a poster with the image of a microphone behind her.

Australian Poetry Slam: Victoria State Final

Victoria's top poets go head to head live, judged by the crowd, in one night of raw spoken word.

People seated and interacting with a screen monitor under a pink 'Delight' neon sign at an indoor bar venue.

Game in the Groove

Demo games from local game developers and students in a cosy bar space in the city.

A large group of people taking part in the Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival, running across Princess Bridge over the Yarra River, with tall city buildings and trees in the background, set against a blue sky.
–

Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival

The Nike Melbourne Marathon Festival takes over the streets of Melbourne this October.

A crowded, dimly-lit venue filled with people dancing, and cables and small green screens hanging from the ceiling.

Games Week Party: The Big Reboot

Fortress Melbourne throws the party of Games Week, a Y2K night of gaming, music, cosplay and more.

Richmond AFLW players celebrating on the field, coming together for a group huddle.

AFLW Round 9: Richmond v Adelaide Crows

You won’t want to miss this Pride Round clash between Richmond and Adelaide Crows at IKON Park.

Afro-fusion artist Mikhaell performing live on stage with his band.

Afro-Fusion Music Showcase: Mikhaell & Friends

Hear the vibrant sounds of Afro-Fusion, reggae and rumba with Mikhaell & Friends in West Melbourne.

People rowing on a dragon boat on a river.

Come and Try Dragon Boat: Melbourne Flames Open Day

Your chance to try a brand new, rapidly-growing sport.

A North Melbourne AFLW player celebrating and cheering herself on the field with a raised and clenched fist.

AFLW Round 9: North Melbourne v Fremantle

North Melbourne faces Fremantle during Pride Round at Arden Street Oval.

A cartoon image of a cross-section of people in colourful clothing, all doing something related to comic books and magazines.

Melbourne Alternative Comics Expo Market Day

A market for comics and graphic novels, featuring over 120 artists and writers.

Regular weekend events

A woman eating fire from sticks with Fringe Festival lettering in the background in blue.
Until

Melbourne Fringe Festival

Melbourne Fringe Festival returns with 500+ exciting, boundary-pushing arts events.

Dark image of a Dracula figure lit with red light on stage.
Until

Dracula: Ballet at its Darkest

A bold, cinematic reimagining of the gothic classic.

Mossy bird's nest balanced between twig branches on a tree.
Until

Design X Nature

An outdoor exhibition of artworks exploring how natural systems inform creative practice.

Two figures wearing gaming costumes standing at an illuminated games machine.
Until

Melbourne International Games Week

Australia's largest festival celebrating games and the people who make and play them.

Rooftop garden at Fed Square with people under market umbrellas.
Until

RESET: A Festival for Grounding and Growing

Slow down, find joy in the hands-on and discover creative ways to live more sustainably this spring.

Two people seated below a neon sign.
Until

The Story of the Moving Image

A permanent exhibition that journeys through the past, present and future of the moving image.

Animator and filmmaker Adam Elliot working on a claymation set, adjusting characters.
Until

Making Memoir of a Snail

Explore handmade sets, props and characters from Adam Elliot's claymation film Memoir of a Snail.

A plate of fluffy pancakes with ice-cream and chocolate over the top.
Until

Chocolate Family Adventure Day

Enjoy an all-inclusive, stress-free family outing filled with fun, creativity, and delicious treats.

Man holding an old-fashioned lantern outside illuminated Flinders St Station at night, wearing a suit and cap.
Until

Hidden Melbourne: Ghosts, Murder and Mystery

Take a spine-chilling journey back in time to explore the rich paranormal realm of Old Melbourne.

Black and white photograph from the 1960s of model, Twiggy, wearing a mini-dress at the Melbourne Cup.
Until

Swinging 60s

This exhibition looks at what it was like to live in Victoria during the 1960s.

A ballet company performing on stage with ballerinas forming a guard around a central dancer.
–

The Stuttgart Ballet: The Sleeping Beauty

Germany’s premier ballet company returns to Melbourne with a dazzling classic.

A group of people on a guided walk of the Royal Botanic Gardens, with trees in the background.
Until

Free Guided Walk

A free guided walk is the perfect way to enjoy the sunny weather in Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne.

An ancient Roman marble bust with its nose chipped off, displayed on a small square plinth.
Until

Rome: Empire, Power, People

This Melbourne-exclusive exhibition is a vibrant exploration of Ancient Rome.

Three people on a walking tour with a Fit City tour guide, two carrying a takeaway coffee.
Until

Laneways and Lattes Walking Tour

Explore Melbourne’s hidden laneways with coffee, street art, history and culture.

Two people on a stage giving each other a high five, one also holding a microphone.
Until

Comedy at the Coopers Inn

A comedy club featuring the best local, interstate and international stand-up comedians.

Workshop class participants smiling in a studio setting, holding up mosaic pots and coasters they have made.
Until

Mosaic Making Workshop for Beginners

Learn the art of creating beautiful mosaics from start to finish.

A group of smiling participants in a studio workshop setting, holding glass-domed terrariums.
Until

Serene Terrarium: Workshop for Beginners

Create your mini plant world while enjoying a soothing cuppa and a calming environment.

Workshop participants smiling and holding multicoloured mosaic tiled coasters.
Until

Colourful Mosaic Coaster Workshop

Come and make mosaic coasters and step into the world of colours.

A close up of flower made from enamel craft
Until

Cloisonne Enamel Painting Workshop for Beginners

Create a unique drink coaster using the ancient cloisonné art.

Three smiling workshop participants in a studio space, holding up jewellery they have made.
Until

Polymer Clay Earring Workshop

Create beautiful jewellery in this fun workshop.

People looking up at the trees on a guided walk in the Royal Botanic Gardens.
Until

Aboriginal Heritage Walk

Wominjeka: journey into Melbourne Gardens with an Aboriginal guide.

Cheese and wine display on a table near a window.
Until

High Cheese

A bold three-tiered journey showcasing local and international cheeses, inspired by fire and water.

Installation view of the Spartans & Anzacs exhibition at the Shrine of Remembrance, with people walking around the space, reading panels and looking at displays.
Until

Spartans & Anzacs

This exhibition invites reflection on the enduring values forged in conflict.

Two theatrical costumes on display in front of a red curtain, featured in the ENCORE! exhibition at the Australian Museum of Performing Arts.
Until

Encore!

50 Objects. 50 Years. One Collection. Treasures from the Australian Museum of Performing Arts.

Two young adults observing a sculpture in a gallery space with digital and scupltural displays.
Until

EMERGENCE[Y]

An exhibition exploring how adaptation in a world of flux unfolds in every layer of life.

Artwork by Margaret Preston depicting Banksia flowers in a pot.
Until

Margaret Preston

NGV's new retrospective exhibition on Margaret Preston.

A large group of people in active wear all running on a path in park.
Until

Run the Tan: Run Club

Start the weekend off on the right foot with a run around the Tan.

A gallery space with paintings displayed on one white and one yellow wall, plus a series of totems or tree trunks displayed in a white stand in the middle.
Until

Ngarn Wa'ngal: Art of the Gum Tree

Discover how the iconic gum tree has inspired centuries of Australian art and culture.

Oktoberfest-themed illustration with man wearing a Tyrolean hat holding steins of beer, pretzel and meat, with a Melbourne tram.
Until

Oktoberfest at Hofbrauhaus

Celebrate German bier, food and music as the Hofbräuhaus Oktoberfest turns 58.

A traditional beer keg-tapping ceremony at an Oktoberfest celebration, at a Bavarian-style beer hall.
Until

Oktoberfest at Munich Brauhaus

Enjoy Bavarian feasts, flowing German bier, live entertainment, and all the Oktoberfest festivities.

Looking over a blurred shoulder at a table with books displayed.
Until

World of the Book

Experience the rare, the sacred and the iconic in this one-of-a-kind exibition.

Stand-up comedian Sam Campbell, talking into a microphone they hold in their hand, performing live on stage.
Until

Main Stage: Stand-Up Comedy

Have a laugh with stand-up comedy from Australia's best comedians, plus international drop-ins.

Three ballerinas on a darkened stage in glowing tutu dresses.
Until

Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty in a Sparkling Show

The classic fairytale is reimagined with glow-in-the-dark costumes and luminous staging.

Egg yolk pouring out of a long sub sandwich with cheese and salad.
Until

Gourmet Sandwich Hunt

Elevate your sandwich style with celebrity chef Darren Purchese.

Singers and dancers on a theatre stage in a scene from A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical, with spotlights and stage sets.
Until

A Beautiful Noise: The Neil Diamond Musical

An inspiring, exhilarating, energetic musical memoir.

Aerial view of an outdoor market on Southbank promenade, showing the Yarra River with boats on the right, market umbrellas and stalls on the concourse and city buildings in the background.
Until

Southbank Makers Market

Explore the Southbank Makers Market every Sunday on the promenade at Southgate.

A solar eclipse, with light emerging around the edges of the blacked-out sun.
Until

Solar Tours

Come and experience the wonders of the Sun at the historic Melbourne Observatory.

Grilled cheese toastie on a plate.
Until

Vego Toastie Hunt

Elevate your vego sandwich with celebrity chef Darren Purchese.

A dancer performs on a brightly illuminated stage wearing a white tutu and bodice outlined with glowing green neon lights, behind her is a framed portrait of two women.
Until

Ballet of Lights: Cinderella in a Sparkling Show

The classic fairytale is reimagined with glow-in-the-dark costumes and luminous staging.

A still from a videogame depicting a Chinese soldier fighting two warriors in front of an ancient Chinese temple.
Until

Feng Mengbo: Long March Restart

An free exhibition that playfully reimagines modern Chinese history as a videogame.

An egg-shaped figuring with a brown cowboy hat and a pistol.
Until

NEW26

The return of the much-loved NEW exhibition series at ACCA.

Burlesque performers on stage wearing black clothing and waving white boa fans.
Until

Briefs: The Works

Circus with attitude. Drag with muscle. Burlesque with bite.

Three long narrow boats with people seated in them and a guide standing at the rear of each boat, punting on the lake at Royal Botanic Gardens.
Until

Punting on the Lake

Glide between the bays and islands of Ornamental Lake on a guided boat cruise.

A Melbourne Fashion Week outdoor fashion capsule installation of fashion mannequins in a large glass rectangular case, displayed in a public space.
Until

Fashion Capsules

A diverse series of curated exhibitions in surprising locations across the city.

Participants on the State Library Victoria Unlocked guided morning tour inside the iconic dome at State Library Victoria in Melbourne.
Until

State Library Victoria Unlocked

Join an exclusive guided tour and experience State Library Victoria before the doors open.

Novelty wind-up chattering teeth against a yellow background.
Until

Basement Comedy Club: Weekend Showcase

Bringing you the biggest names and best comedians in the country, and beyond.

A young person with long blonde hair, wearing a green satin top and making an animated, expressive gesture with hands up near their face against a solid olive-green background.
–

Tegan Higginbotham: Follow That Turtle!

Award-winning comedian Tegan Higginbotham is back with an unmissable hour of stand-up gold.

Black and white photograph of a busy Melbourne city intersection with trams, cars, people crossing the road, and buildings, dating from around the 1950s or 1960s.
Until

Making Modern Melbourne

This free exhibition examines the tumultuous twentieth century in Melbourne.

Four rows of people sitting smiling and laughing.
Until

Kings of Comedy: Underground, Uncensored, Unrivalled

Enjoy stand-up comedy from future stars and celebrity guest headliners.

A performer in a black outfit, shorts, and a wide-brimmed black hat stands on a stage with a red floor, holding a large, flowing red cloth like a matador.
Until

Marketing Man

Satirical chaos that tears the lid off hustle culture, hype mythology, and the dark art of the sell.

Four women standing and holding up small mosaic lamps in front of a circular neon sign.
Until

Mosaic Art Classes Melbourne: Turkish Lamp Workshop

Make beautiful mosaic lamps at this Turkish lamp workshop

A green linocut of a flower and foliage printed on paper and a fabric tote bag.
Until

Tote Bag Block Printing Workshop

Style your bag just the way you like it with block printing in this beginner's workshop.

See all events on this weekend

More to explore

People milling around Fed Square at sunset.

What's on today

Discover free events, epic festivals and shows on in Melbourne today.

A night tennis match at Rod Laver Arena.

Major events

From the Australian Open to the Melbourne Cup, major events take centre stage throughout the year.

People on deck chairs watching a movie in Fed Square on a large screen.

What's free in Melbourne this month

Everything to see, do and enjoy in Melbourne for free this month.

A chef cooking meat skewers over a flaming grill.
–

What's on in November

Things to do in Melbourne in November, from free events to exhibitions and places to visit.